Vice-President Kamala Harris has picked Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to be her running mate, marking a major milestone since her move to the top of the Democratic ticket ahead of the November presidential election.

鈥淎s a governor, a coach, a teacher, and a veteran, he鈥檚 delivered for working families like his,鈥� Harris posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, Tuesday.

Harris formally clinched the Democratic nomination Monday and is expected to appear at a rally with Walz in Philadelphia on Tuesday evening.

Walz said it was an honour of a lifetime to join the campaign.

鈥淚鈥檓 all in,鈥� Walz said in a post on social media.

The search for a running mate began just two weeks ago, after President Joe Biden removed himself as the nominee amid concerns over his age and endorsed Harris.

In the turbulent days that followed, Walz received national attention for his plain-spoken television appearances, and was credited for coining the increasingly popular Democratic talking point that their Republican opponents are 鈥渏ust weird.鈥�

Walz, 60, is a military veteran, retired educator and union supporter whose state shares a 885-kilometre border with Canada.

鈥淏etween Walz and Harris鈥� background in Canada, these are two people that will have a good understanding of the relationship between the two countries,鈥� said Matthew Lebo, a specialist in U.S. politics at Western University in London, Ont.

Harris, who lived in Montreal as a teenager, is expected to be guided by Biden鈥檚 road map as she navigates America鈥檚 relationship with Canada.

Biden鈥檚 tenure has been described as more stable than his predecessor when it comes to U.S.-Canada relations, but not much different from former president Donald Trump鈥檚 administration.

Trump pushed to renegotiate of the old North American Free Trade Agreement.

It was replaced with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which Canada鈥檚 government heralded as a success, but which Harris voted against, saying it didn鈥檛 do enough to protect American workers or the environment.

Trump also introduced billions of dollars鈥� worth of tariffs, particularly on Chinese imports, and he has threatened more if he wins a second term in office.

Lebo said it鈥檚 likely Walz understands the value of trade between Canada and the United States.

The Business Council of Canada website describes the relationship with Minnesota as more than just a shared love of hockey with its neighbours to the north. Trade ties are extensive, especially when it comes to energy and agriculture.

鈥淥ntario and Minnesota do billions of dollars in two-way trade every year. We agreed on the need to protect and grow our strong economic ties, including our growing agriculture and energy sectors,鈥� Premier Doug Ford posted on social media after Walz visited Queen鈥檚 Park in June.

Walz also seems 鈥淐anadian鈥� in terms of his temperament and values, Lebo said.

鈥淢innesota may be the most Canadian-like state,鈥� Lebo said.

He has also pushed social policies in line with the current Canadian government,Lebo said.

Walz and fellow lawmakers have eliminated nearly all of the state鈥檚 abortion restrictions, protected gender-affirming care for transgender youth and legalized the recreational use of marijuana.

Minnesota Democrats also funded free school meals for children and free tuition at public colleges for students in families that earning less than $80,000 a year. Walz has been praised for putting state funds toward health insurance coverage, regardless of a person鈥檚 immigration status.

Lebo said Walz may be criticized for his response to protests after the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer in 2020 and his administration鈥檚 oversight of some pandemic-era programs.

The governor, with a 鈥淢innesota nice鈥� demeanour, may help to build an important bridge between the Democrats and voters in key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Trump won those states in 2016 and they swung to Biden in 2020.

Harris鈥檚 decision to pick Walz as her running mate shows she is looking to pull in more voted from white, working class men Lebo said. There were concerns that she would have less success with those voters than Biden, he said, and they could be critical for a Democratic win.

鈥淪he was looking for someone who might appeal to independent voters,鈥� Lebo said.

鈥� With files from The Associated Press.

Kelly Geraldine Malone, The Canadian Press